Mooneyes  Dean Moon (May 1, 1927 - June 4, 1987), raised since childhood in Norwalk, California. He was an avid "car guy" and mechanic heavily involved in dry lakes racing and speed equipment with a keen sense for business. He founded MOON Speed Equipment business (c.1950) and continued to improve the quality and safety of speed and racing products his entire life. He is one of the original founding members that created SEMA in 1963.

Dean Moon was the consummate “Hot Rodder” and innovator of speed parts. He built and raced cars from El Mirage Dry Lake and Bonneville Salt Flats to the Drag Strips and beyond, and established a company that became an icon in the Hot Rod industry. Starting his business from modest beginnings in a garage behind his father's Moon's Cafe in Norwalk, he grew it into an internationally recognized brand name. Early products were a multi-carb fuel block, spun aluminum wheel discs, aluminum gas tanks and a foot-shaped throttle pedal. These initial products were so prominent, today the term MOON Tank and MOON Discs are used on anything resembling these items.

Moon purchased the Potvin company of Chuck Potvin, good friend and manufacturer of ignitions, camshafts and blower drives, in 1960. In 1962, he moved the company to the Moon Equipment building in Santa Fe Springs, California, and continued producing Potvin products.